Tool for handling retaining rings



Feb. 23, 1954 R. J. HAMLER 2,669,772

TOOL FOR HANDLI NG RETAINING RINGS Filed Sept. 9, 1950 Inwentor Roberf J Hamler.

(Ittorneg Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES t ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a tool for handling open-ended retaining rings, such as the ring which holds the bearing in an automobile transmission housing.

Considerable difficulty is encountered in handling open-ended retaining rings of the type adapted to be sprung into the groove of a bearing, shaft or housing in view of the fact that such rings must be spread open while, for exam ple, a bearing is being slipped into place in the housing portion on which it is mounted. A common type of tool which is used for spreading retaining rings of this kind is a plier-type tool. In some instances, the plier points are inserted into apertures formed in the end portions of the ring so as to form a positive grip and enable spreading of the ring. These apertures have the disadvantage of weakening the ring and adding to the cost of manufacture. Furthermore, either with or without apertures, difficulty is usually encountered in the insertion of the plier points into position on the ring ends since clearances are very small, being limited generally to the thickness of the ring, and adequate frictional grip on the ring so that it may be spread is exceedingly difficult to obtain, therefore resulting in frequent slippage and requiring considerable time for spreading of the ring and mounting of the bearing.

A still further disadvantage in the use of pliertype tools for handling open-ended retaining rings or snap rings is that such tools are usually quite complicated in construction, difiicult to manufacture and therefore relatively expensive. Furthermore, retaining rings which are spread open by an abnormal amount are either broken or provided with a permanent set in the spread position.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool for handling open-ended retaining rings, which tool is devoid of the above mentioned disadvantages of plier-type and similar tools.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a tool for handling open-ended retaining rings, which tool is of relatively simple construction and yet which is positive in operation, requiring minimum effort and time for the the purpose of expanding the retaining ring.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a tool which is so shaped that it is particularly adapted for expanding the openended retaining ring which is seated in the outer grooved peripheral portion of the race of a ball bearing and in the inner confronting groove of 2 a transmission housing, which ring detachably mounts the bearing in the housing such as provided in Chevrolet passenger cars or one-half ton trucks, and which tool is adapted to disassemble such bearing by the mere insertion of its point between end portions of the ring.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a tool embodying the principles of my invention and adapted to disassemble open-ended retaining rings such as used for mounting the bearings in Chevrolet automobile transmissions;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the tool shown in Fig. 1 taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a fragmentary portion of the transmission housing and of the bearing mounting of a Chevrolet automobile transmission including an open-ended retaining ring for holding the bearing in a mounted position in the housing;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line IVIV of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line VV of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 which show a tool for handling open-ended retaining rings, numeral i denotes a handle portion, numeral 2 a stem portion, and numeral 3 a pointed end portion of the tool, which portions are integrally secured together. End portion 3 is somewhat of the shape of a cone with a slight, outwardly curved surface, which cone has a cut out portion 4 comprising a flat surface near the end thereof and terminating in a curve to form a somewhat spoon-shaped surface for the purpose of providing a wedging action to expand the retaining ring as will be shown hereinafter. The tool is preferably made of metal although the handle portion may be made of rubber composition, plastic or other suitable material if so desired.

Figs. 3, 4i and 5 show a portion 5 of a housing of an automobile transmission, such as that on a Chevrolet passenger car or one-half ton truck, which housing portion has an inwardly extending, annular flange portion 6 whose inner periphery is provided with a groove 6a and in which may be seated an open-ended retaining ring 1. Ring 7 is made of suitable spring steel and is split to provide closely adjacent end portions. One of its end portions 1a is usually outwardly curved although such curvature is not necessary for the purposes of the present invention. A ball bearing denoted generally by numeral 8 is adapted to be detachably mounted in place in alignment with the flange portion 6 of the housing. The outer peripheral surface of the ball bearing is provided with a peripheral groove 811 into which the inner peripheral portion of ring I is adapted to extend. Thus it will be seen that when the ball bearing is in proper position, the retaining ring 1 expandstan'd is (seated-in groovesgtaq and 8a. of the housing andsouterrace of the bearing, respectively, so as to mount the bearing in position in relation to the housing.

In conventional Chevrolet transmission..h0us= ings, the flange portion 6a is usually provided with an arcuate or moon-shaped cut-outiiportionzx 9 to provide the necessary clearanoeforinsertion of a plier-type of tool.

Referring again to the shape of the tool2.end portion 3, it wil1 be noted that the curvature k thereof corresponds. to the curvature ofthe cut.. outportion 9, therefore ..-the.:tool..end portion is adaptedsto. besnugly .seatedin thecut out portion} as the point. thereof isinserted and. pushed between. the. ends. of .theretain-ingring 7..

In operation, assume that the bearing is mountedin place .in the. transmission. housing as shown in Fig. 4... In. order .to .dissassemble the bearing thepointof .thErtQOl-iS insertedbetween the endsof the ring with the flattened) part. of the spoonshaped. surface facing. the hearing as the point is moved fartheryand farther. into theopening, Duringsuch insertion, theflattened surfaceof the-toollisadapted. to rest against the outer peripheral surface of the outer .raceof the. bearing;- while. the wedge-shaped -point.:thereof exerts a wedging action between the-ends, otthe ring- S0. assto. ,cause. spreading thereon Finally,

as .-.the,. .tool 1. is. pushed. 'sufilciently inwardly so that-its outer curved surface becomes seated in the;.correspondingly shaped curved surface of aperture 9,.the spreading-of thering ceases. By this time the ring is sufficiently expanded so as todclearthe greatest. dimension; of the bearing and thereby .allow axiat movement. and removal thereof from the housing.

It will be noted thatpthecut outil Grtionxil'g servesas a. guide'afonthe toolpoint and-serves alsoto:.1imit:.the, extent; of spread'pf theretaine ing ring po as. to. avoid the possibility of; rings, breakageeor ofimpartinga permanent. estate the; :1 ring by; abnormal spreading thereofias might I occur virrthe use of a. plier-type tool: oritl'ielikea.

Whenit isdesired to. assemble the bearineandmount it an the housing... it :is. first inserted as. faraas.;-itswill,go within fiangeaportion .6;.-..that is,: until;itssidesurfaoe abuts..-the..inwardly projectinggpprti'ongoi ring. .1 "while the ring; is .position'ed in=.:gr,oove:x6a1 of: .zthe; housing. The. point Of. the. tool-Lis ,then :inserted between: the. ends .-:.of;; the ring. andamoved throughaperturenll soas .torspread: 1 the= ring;:- As ;the.-;ring .is spread; sufficiently so. 3,51. to-ycleary. the 2 maximum. dimension. ofa: theabeare ing, the hearing may be pushed into place, ..thatx is into: the position: shown :in: Fig." 4 :wherein its outer: groove; is; in; registry" with the housing: groove: Gan at; .which time: the tool: retracted .t andixring contracts and :snaps into; place. so that. its-=thicknessextends into .both. .ofnthe. con.:=

frontingggrooves and. thereby will holdxtherbeane ing 11119. mounted; position.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a highly eflicient tool for handling open-ended retaining rings in Chevrolet transmissions and the like, which tool is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and very easy to operate, and which enables assembly or disassembly of the bearing in a matter of a few seconds as distinguished from the time consuming and tedious operation required by the use of OthGIHZQOISmfOI. effecting rspreaclinggof {the ring during the mounting or disassembly operation; furthermore, I have provided a tool which provides a limit to the spreading movement of the ring thereby avoiding permanent set or breakage of the ring during such spreading movement.

While I have illustrated and described a certain specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent'that this is by way of illustration only;. and that various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention. aand .-.wi.thin-. the scope. of.. the...f.ollowing claims.

I claim;

1. A tool for spreading;openeendedwretaina ing rings, comprisingan integral handle; shank and ring-engaging .end portion having. a commons. longitudinal axis, saidgendgportion,bein pointed. andnbeing of substantially conical shape-with respect. tc -said-axisand having: a'flat'cut out.

-portion extending along v '.the.-.=central' ,lOngitudi:

nal. plane of. said. conical shape.;.

2, stool-adapted for insertion into a-.substan-.'- tially crescent-shaped groove,vinto.-w-hieh groove. project .the -en-ds1 of i an openeended'; retaining;

ring, fora spreading ;.the-: rings comprising; an. im

tegral handle,;shank -ancl-,ringengaging.; end:por--- ti-cns havinsv a.- commons longitudinal ;axis,'l.saidr; emlgportion. being somewhat spoonrshapedr; by): having aconicaLouter surface with a-sli-ght putward ;-curvature :and ;,having ;a :substantially: flat: out. out; portion extendingalongapart of thercen-ztra-l' longitudinal; plane; of said: end;1por.tibn;-.. whereby sa'idaouterrconical;surfaceimay beseatedc int saidzgrooveuwhenz spreading :apart the .ends :of. '1 ;.said;1ring. :byvwedging action; of said iendupore tilonl; to limit :sai'dz spreading Jamil thus-z prevent:

permanent seti .onz breakageztendency LOf. the-ring: 3:5" A-rtoolz for-spreading .apartrthe .end'si.=.ofr am:l open-ended retaining ring in a transmissionm housin'gzcomprising :a--.ihan'dle, shankl'andnringengaging. :ende-portion.integrallyssecuredrto getherr andmayingia; commonzlongitudmali axis,:said end portion being pointed.-andrhaving:aesubstaritially conical: outer. 'rsurfa'ce wit/11 respect tosaid. iaxiss whiohrsurfacesis: slight-1y. convex; saidflend pore tron: -haying;-a: .cut :out'v :porti'oni extending -along as fiatgcentral, longitudinal plane. along the termi--- nal portion of said end portion.

ROBERT JL.

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